Belgium

Belgium Background

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Belgium Information

• Population: 10,348,276 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
• Location:: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
• Religions:: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
• Ethnic Groups:: Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
• Land Boundaries:: total: 1,385 km border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
• Area: total: 30,528 sq km land: 30,278 sq km water: 250 sq km
• Coast Line: 66.5 km
• Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
• Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: median line with neighbors exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
• Land Use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% note: includes Luxembourg (2001) other: 76.32%
• Environmental Issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncerta
• Natural Resources: coal, natural gas, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
• Highways: total: 148,216 km paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
• Railways: total: 3,518 km standard gauge: 3,518 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
• Airports: 42 (2003 est.)